2011 music sales strike upward note

Engaging in the holiday gift-buying season, total music sales were up 5.1% using the finish of October, according to figures released Thursday by Nielsen SoundScan. Throughout an online seminar presentation by NARM, SoundScan senior veep of entertainment analysis David Bakula mentioned total music sales through March. 30 rose to 353 million models, versus. 336 million this season. Overall album sales were up 3% over a year ago, with 249 million albums offered versus 242 million a year ago. Digital album sales grown 19.7% to 81 million, but physical album sales ongoing to express no, losing 3.5%, with 168 million offered this year. However, Bakula noted the drop in Compact disk sales has abated somewhat, following 2010's precipitous 20% decline. Current album sales wound up 1.7% using the finish of October, but catalog sales shown reasonable increase, with overall catalog elevated 9.1% and deep catalog up 12.5%. Vinyl sales continued to be as forecasted to improve 30% this season, even though format comprises about just 1.6% of overall sales. Bakula noted the configuration might be the middle of indie stores, which sells exclusive vinyl pieces on Record Store Day as well as the publish-Thanksgiving To Black Friday. Sales inside the traditional retail space ongoing to erode. Niche music chains were off 10% (while using closure of Edges benefiting from undeniable impact), independent stores fell 9.3%, mass merchants were lower 3.2% and non-traditional retailers for instance Local coffee shop dropped 21.8%. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com